Epilogue: The First Jellicle Ball

"Rum Tum Tugger is a terrible bore!" Asteria sang out. Her father was strutting about the Junkyard, queens clambering over each other to get to him. Asteria was perched on the sidelines, feeling it would be weird to join them. She merely bopped her head, laughing as Bombalurina fell hard on the ground and plugging her ears against Etcetera's ear wrenching shriek. She joined in when Tugger played his tail like a guitar, singing into her own fluffy one like a microphone.

It was a few months after celebrating her birthday and Asteria had never so much fun. The Jellicle ball was a whole new experience for her. Never before had she heard the meaning of a cat's three names or dressed up like a cockroach, but now she had and loved every minute of it. Her father just finishing his song and Asteria trotted up to him.

"Lovely dancing father," she smirked, "Have you ever miscalculated a thrust so that someone got a mouthful of-"

Tugger cuffed her head.

"Watch your language," he told her, but had a hard time not smiling.

Bustopher Jones came waddling on now, bowing deeply to his nephew, Mistofelees. Asteria turned away as he sang, stuffing her tail into her mouth to keep from laughing. Suddenly lightening flashed and a siren sounded from somewhere. Asteria fluffed up her mane, looking around nervously. She caught sight of a huge orange and white cat with a snarled orange mane and deep red scars on his face. Asteria was so scared she couldn't speak, but Demeter could.

"Macavity!" she called out and everyone scattered. Asteria ran into the pipe Mistofelees came out of, crouching down in the ankle deep slime.

Then a familiar high pitched giggle echoed in the air, followed by a loud "shush!" Rumpleteazer slunk out of hiding, carrying a bag of stolen goods. Mungojerrie followed her with his own bag. Asteria sighed, watching Mungojerrie sing and dance with his sister. She found herself purring deeply, as electric currents tickled her very core. She licked her lips as the two sung out, "An' there's nuthin' at all to be done abou' that!"

The other Jellicle's ran out of hiding, pretending to chase them off. Asteria tugged Mungojerrie's tail playfully. He smiled at her and winked.

That was when Old Deuteronomy appeared. Asteria, who had met the leader the day she was officially accepted into the Jellicle tribe, ran forward to hug her grandfather tenderly. He stroked her head as all the others crowded around them. Munkustrap led his father up onto his usual perch and Jemima crawled into his lap.

Now this was supposed to be when the cats put on the skit they had prepared for Old Deuteronomy, but this year, somebody had other plans. Lightning crackled once more as Macavity leapt into view with a great roar! The cats shrieked with fear!

"I realize I have been going about this the wrong way!" Macavity roared, "I must not cause my father pain, I must take the thing I am entitled to!"

Demeter screamed with fear as Macavity stalked towards her. Munkustrap tried to get to her, but Macavity had hired extra helpers since last time and his henchmen held him back. Macavity seized Demeter and pulled her to the ground.

"Bring Munkustrap over here!" he yelled to his henchmen.

They dragged Munkustrap over.

"I want you to watch Munkustrap while I mate with this beautiful queen," Macavity leered, stroking his paw along her neck before starting to lick it. Demeter squirmed, but then just lay still. She had given up and was trembling.

"I saw this happening in my nightmares," she whimpered.

"I saw you in my dreams too," Macavity growled softly, the closest thing to a purr he could manage. He started to rub his paws over her body.

"You son of a pollicle!" Munkustrap bellowed, thrashing with all his might but being unable to break free, "Let her go, I beg of you brother, I'll give you anything you want!"

"All I want is Demeter," Macavity sneered, shifting into the proper position. Demeter had silent tears coursing down her cheeks and Jemima was bawling, terrified for her mother.

Asteria was fighting tooth and claw to get away from her captor, but he held firm. All the Jellicles were trying desperately to help Demeter, but Macavity's henchmen were too numerous.

Then Mungojerrie managed to claw his way through the guard and flung himself at Macavity! He dragged him off Demeter and began to claw and bite ferociously.

"'Ow dare you come 'ere!" Mungojerrie snarled, "No one deserves tuh suff'ah at you'ah 'ands! Like Demeter, like me and mah sistah!"

Macavity flung him off his back and grabbed him by the throat. Asteria screamed and fought harder then ever, but her captor would not budge.

"You weakling!" Macavity spat in Mungojerrie's face, "I gave you the chance to join me and you stay with these nothings!"

Mungojerrie gasped for air, starting to foam at the mouth. But he aimed a clawed kick at Macavity's gut and he released him. Mungojerrie pinned Macavity on the ground and clawed him across the face. Blood dripped from the reopened wounds and Macavity spat some out of his mouth.

Mungojerrie put his claws on Macavity's throat. He stared into the eyes of the tom that murdered his parents. He longed to tear out Macavity's throat, end the wicked toms life. But something held him back. Keeping his claws out and ready, he let Macavity rise.

"What are you doing?" the Jellicles in general called out, "Finish him off!"

Mungojerrie shook his head.

"Leave Macavity," he snarled.

Macavity, badly winded shuffled off, leering at the Jellicles.

"Mungojerrie," he snarled, "You have just made a very serious mistake. Let's go!"

Macavity's henchmen broke their ranks and followed their boss out of the Junkyard.

Munkustrap ran to Demeter and held her tenderly, licking and nuzzling her face. Rumpleteazer flung her arms around her brother, sobbing that she thought she'd never see him again.

"Shh, Teaz'ah. I'm alright," Mungojerrie soothed her, then turned as Asteria pressed her head against his side.

"Thank you Asteria," Mungojerrie smiled.

"For what?" Asteria asked, confused.

"If you 'aden't told meh not to kill Macavity, 'e'd be dead," Mungojerrie nuzzled Asteria's head, "An' I don' wanna be like 'im."

Asteria licked him on the cheek. "You're not," she whispered.

After recovering from the shock, the Jellicle ball continued. The skit forgotten, the toms began to flaunt their skills, trying to impress the queens. Mistofelees leapt towards Victoria, spinning and hopping like a top. Victoria smiled. When he stopped, she stretched out a paw towards him. Plato sprung out of nowhere, hissing at Mistofelees. He hissed back and the fight began.

Plato had the size and strength advantage, but Mistofelees had magic. The fight only lasted a few minutes before Plato limped off, most of the fur singed off his body. Mistofelees, who had no reason to dance anymore, sat down with Victoria and nuzzled her head.

Asteria smiled, before noticing that most of the toms were flaunting for her attention. But she refused to notice any of them until the music slowed down. Slinking forward she caught Mungojerrie's eye. He beamed and approached her slowly.

"Are ya sure?" he whispered in her ear when she got close enough.

Asteria nodded.

"From the moment I saw you," she whispered back.

So Mungojerrie began nuzzling the side of her face, tenderly nipping at her neck. Asteria purred deeply, the sparks becoming flames as Mungojerrie scratched his claws lightly down her back. He then lifted her up with her legs spread out, just like her mother two years ago. Mungojerrie rubbed her inner thigh and Asteria purred harder. Lowering her across another cats back, Mungojerrie scratched his paws across Asteria's chest and she moaned out loud.

Mungojerrie moaned as her lay her own the ground and positioned himself between her legs. "I love ya Asteria," he whispered, licking her face and tangling his paws in her mane.

Happy tears filled her eyes and she licked his face in return. "I love you too," she responded.

Rum Tum Tugger looked up from Bombalurina as when her heard his daughter yowl. But he smiled at what he saw. He knew his daughter would be fine.